Sleeping bag made of paper



Jan. 20, 1953 J. w. NICHOLSON SLEEPING BAG MADE OF PAPER 2 SHEETS-SHEET1 Filed June 12, 1950 FIG 4 N IOHOLSON 3m entor l4 JAMES W.

(Ittornegs Jan. 20, 1953 J. w. NICHOLSON SLEEPING BAG MADE QF' PAPER 2SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 12, 1950 NICHOLSON Ihwentor JAMES w.

(lttomegs Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLEEPINGBAG MADE'OF PAPER James W. Nicholson, Bellingham, Wash.

Application June 12, 1950, Serial No. 167,524

6 Claims. 1

This present invention contemplates the construction of a sleeping bagmade wholly of paper, or paper-like products, to the end that a sleepingbag for occasional use can be provided which will be so inexpensive thatfor many purposes it can be disposed of after having been used once or arelatively few times. This present bag makes use of the more recentdevelopment in the construction of paper, or paper-like insulatingmaterials, so that bags may be made after the teachings of thisinvention which will bereadily adaptable in accordance with theirconstruction, for use under the full range of outdoor sleepingconditions which are now served by expensive insulated bag structures.

For the most part, sleeping'bags are. used where transportationfacilities are at a minimum. The camper who must carry his sleepingequipment, as well as food for an extended period on his back, isproperly responsible for the high degree of development found insleeping bag construction today, as it has been proven that for a givenweight of materials, a bag-like structure will provide the maximumwarmth .for the user. Sleeping bags are now quite generally used in manyother fields. They are used where transportation bulk or weight must bekept to a minimum, as in horse-packing trips, or motor trips, and duringthe recent war were used in great numbers by the members of the variousarmedservices. The various designs of sleeping bags in general use todaywell serve their intended purpose. However, when .real protection isneeded against cold weather, the .most suitable insulating materialsthat have been found are thosehaving the general characteristics ofdown. Originally, the down of the eider duck was used because "of itsnatural cold habitat. During therecent war with insufficient supplies ofthe most desirable downs, down of domestic ducks and geese was used, andsometimes, where weather conditions were not too severe, these weremixed with specially prepared chicken feathers. The. use of down made itnecessary to employ a very fine cloth covering inorder that. the downcould be retained and then, in order tomake the'bag durable and have areasonably useful life, protective coverings were required inside andoutside of the bag. Such constructions add to the weight of the bag butthey particularly add to the cost of manufacture. Consequently, bags ofthis order are many times not available to persons who could well use asleeping bag because of the cost involved.

In the construction illustrated and described in the applicationfulladvantage has been taken 2 of technological developmentsin the paper -industry and a sleeping bag is thus ,producedwhich is very inexpensive infirst cost, and in which the insulating material, which is also paper,"can be built up to any thicknessrequired to give adequate protectionfor the human body throughoutthe full range of temperatures encountered.With a bag constructed of thismaterial, it is now'possible for a'familyof moderate means tosupply-sleeping bags to all the members ofthe-family at "an overall cost many times "greatlyred'uced from the costof a single adequate sleeping bag of the prior type. There is anotherifield, however, in which this bag is particularly adaptable, and'thatis in rescue work, or in expeditions wherethe expedition travelling onfoot can here-suppliedat intervals from aeroplanes which will drop thenecessary sup-plies. Under such conditions, the paper bags may be leftat the last camping point and others economically supplied for the nextcamp ground. There are many conditions where emergency sleepingaccommodations'ne'ed be provided. This occurs particularly inconstruction work, logging operations, forest fire fighting operationsand the like, where the bag may only 'be' used by an individual a fewtimes, and in thecas of the paper bag it would then be disposed of. Thisis a great improvement over the present handling of sleeping bags inwhich either the second or third user must sleep in a bag that hasbeenused by others, or the bags must be thoroughly'renovated. This'is -amatter of considerable expense and many timesequipment of this order isused in localities where such cleaning services are not available. It isunder such conditions that the disposable paper sleeping bag is of greatworth.

The principal object of this present invention is to provide 'a,sleeping bag made of paper, or paper-like material, in which the cost ofmanufacture is so reduced that the bag'canbe economical-ly disposed ofafter limited use by an individual.

A further object of this invention is toprovide apaper sleeping baghavinga'plurality of paper layers, each selected for theirparticularsuitability for the service that the various parts can 'beexpected to encounter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sleeping bagconstruction wherein the amount of the paper, or paper-like insulatingmaterial, can be likened quite definitely to the thermo requirements.

A further object of this present invention is to use papers so treatedfor the outer and inner envelopes of the bag that a. soft fabric-liketex ture is presented to the feel of the human body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a paper sleeping bag inwhich the papers used are so configured that they are yieldable andpliable to the extent that they will drape themselves about a personsbody in the same manner as do the more expensive materials used insleeping bags.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sleeping bag which intime of national emergency could be made in immense quantities withoutat all taxing the production facilities of this country.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended orare inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

- Figure 2 is a typical longitudinal sectional view of the sleeping bagof Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a typical cross-sectional View of Figure 1, takentransversely to the same body portions thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view similar to aportion of Figure 3 but illustrating a modified form of joining thesheets making the inner and outer envelope of the bag;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, in fragmentary form, as though a sectionwere cut out of either the bottom or top portion of the sleeping bagenvelope and showing the layers of insulating material rolled back inpart to more fully illustrate the construction thereof;

. Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through oneportion of the bag covering with the same shown on a considerablyenlarged scale;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary face view of one layer of the insulating paperused in this bag, the same being shown as though magnified possibly onehundred times, in order to show the voids in the paper which greatlyassists in filling up a great number of small air faces for insulationpurposes; and

' Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the head covering end ofthe sleeping bag, showing this portion as it may be adjusted around thehead of the user.

, Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, thenumeral l0 designates in general the outer envelope. This is in the formof a paper bag having the top portion 12 and the lower portion M whichhas the head covering extension 15 formed as part thereof. Disposedwithin the outer envelope is the inner envelope 2!]. This has, similarlyto the outer envelope, the upper portion 22, the lower portion 24, andthe head covering extension 26. The two envelopes are joined together atthe front end and preferably the juncture is covered by a piece ofreinforcing tape 30. The upper ends of the two envelopes are similarlyjoined together as at 32, and the two head covering extensions l6 and 26are preferably joined entirely around the three exposed margins as at34. The best manner of joining the inner and outer envelopes should bedetermined after checking fully into the characteristics of theparticular papers forming the envelopes. Throughout the figures this hasbeen indicated by means of stitching. However, it will be apparent, itis believed, that certain types of paper could be glued together verysatisfactorily, and in some cases a clinching staple very similar to apaper staple used in stapling letter sheets together, but on an enlargedsize, would be very satisfactory.

The preferred material for forming the inner and outer envelopes is atype of crinkled or crepe paper. Paper of this order is quite generallyused for making sacks for the handling of various sacked commodities,especially where it is desirable to have a bag that will be able tostretch somewhat if it is dropped, and thus prevent the splitting of thesack. Such papers are usually good grade of Kraft paper that are giventhe crepe or crinkled effect during their manufacture while they arewet. Normally, they hold their shape quite well, but if unusual strainis imposed upon them, instead of tearing the crinkled portions willstraighten out and thus relieve the paper of dangerous tension. Anotherdesirable characteristic of the creped papers is that they do notpresent a large smooth surface when touched by the hand or body, butrather, give the impression of a fabric in that, like a fabric, the handtouching the paper actually only hits the high spots and is effectedvery similarly to a woven fabric. This effect makes the paper much moreacceptable for this particular use. It follows, further, that the papermay be pervious by construction, or may be water-proofed, as the useindicates desirable. Except for use in wet weather, the pervious type isa much more healthful bag. On the other hand, if the bag is to be usedunder wet conditions, it is essential that it be provided, to a degree,of the water-proof paper.

A preferred form of the bag is shown in Figure 1. In this instance boththe outer and inner envelopes go clear around the bag when considered intransverse sections, and have a single seam as at 38. This seam may takethe form shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a more ideal form whereheavy inner lining is used, whereas, that form shown in Figure 4 whichemploys a binding tape as 40, is the stronger construction and moreeasily achieved. It will further be apparent, it is believed, that if itis necessary, in order to effect a saving in materials, a seam could beprovided on each side of the bag. In any event, it is desirable toprovide the fold as indicated at seam 38 and on the opposite side at 42.This insures that the bag will fold or roll nicely withoutdisarrangement or damage to itself, and at all times the upper surfaceas l2, with the layer secured to it, will tend to settle down onto theuser and give that wrapping efiect so much desired and presentparticularly with the heavier blankets.

Disposed in a space between the inner and outer envelopes is the heatconfining insulating material 44. For this use, the most satisfactorymaterial is the crepe or crinkled multi-layer insulating papers orblankets that are so commonly used in insulating buildings. Normally,from 12 to 50 sheets of this thin paper are used as a blanket and toinsure that they stay in position, it is common to secure them by gluingor fusin the same together at spaced intervals indicated at 46 inFigures 5 and 6. As these individual sheets 48 have very little strengthit is a preferred construction to use a backing sheet as 50 to which thevarious sheets are secured by means of the stop anchors 46. Thepreferred placement of this backing strip, from a thermoconductivitystandpoint, is toward the outside of the bag, considering in Figure 6,the outer wall shown at M and the inner wall shown at 24. If on theother hand, the bag is to be used by persons partially or fully clothedwhere considerable stretching might occur, it might, in that case, bemore desirable to have the backing strip 50 toward the inside of thebag.

In Figure 7 a view is shown as though the face of a single sheet 48 wereviewed under a low power microscope of possibly 50 or 100 diameters andit will be noted that a large number of actual openings exist as at 54.These vary considerably in size, none of them large, most of thempractically microscopic. This furthers the insulating value of a pad ofsuch sheets-and asused in this bag. The openings are irregular in sizeand placement and when successive layers are piled one on the other, avary large number of air cells are provided, even where the sheets bearon each other; Further, the creping effect, or crinkling of the envelopesheets l2, I4, 22 and 24, and which is done to a lesser degree on thesheets 48 use-d between the inner and outer envelopes, gives the generaleffect of Figure 6, which must be considered to be enlarged to 20 timesnormal size. It will be noted that a large number of relatively largeair spaces 56 are thus provided. The construction in Figure 6 shows 16sheets of paper. This is a good average weight for ordinary use, then asmore severe conditions are to be encountered the number of sheets ismerely increased but the result of the construction above remains thesame. A draw-string is provided at 66 so that the user can pucker theopen end of the bag more closely around the shoulders, and similar drawstrings 62 are provided along the sides of the head covering. Drawstring 60 may be tightened and secured after the user is in the bag toprevent air getting in around the neck and shoulders.

The head covering extension formed of members l6 and 26 may be formedaround the head as shown in Figure 8 by wrapping the outermost edgearound the face so the corners meet under the chin of the user and thendraw strings 62 are pulled to tighten the bag around the neck andshoulders. For use in severe climatic conditions, sheets l6 and 26 mayinclude between them, the same insulating sheets 48 used in the body ofthe bag.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the abovedescription and the disclosure in the drawings that the inventioncomprehends a novel construction of a sleeping bag made of paper.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A paper sleeping bag, comprising: an outer envelope formed ofdurable, waterproof, crinkled paper having a bottom portion, a topportion, a closed end, an open end, a head covering portion extendingfrom the bottom portion at the open end, and side portions on eitherside joining the top and bottom portions, each side portion having alongitudinal fold centered between the top and bottom portions, wherebywhen the sleeping bag is folded the side portions will collapse betweenthe top and bottom portions; an inner envelope formed of durablecrinkled paper positioned within said outer envelope having a shapesimilar to said outer envelope, said envelopes being joined together atthe free edges of said open end and said head covering portion and saidenvelopes being joined together by binding tape at the closed end and atone of said side portions; a filler positioned between said inner andouter envelopes, said filler being composed of many layers of thincrinkled paper; and a backing sheet positioned between said inner andouter envelopes, said nner being secured to said backing sheet at spacedintervals.

2. A paper sleeping bag, comprising: an outer envelope formed ofcrinkled paper having a bag shape with a top portion, a bottom portion,a closed 'end and an open end and having a head covering portionextending from the bottom portion at the open end; an inner envelopeformed of crinkled'paper positioned within said outer envelope having ashape similar to said outer envelope, said envelopes being joinedtogether at the free edges of said open end and said head coveringportion; a filler positioned between said inner and outer envelopes,said filler being -composed of many layers of thin crinkled paper; abacking sheet positioned between said inner and outer envelopes on theoutside or said filler, said filler being secured to said backingshe'et'at spaced intervals; there being a plurality of openings throughsaid envelopes near the free edgeof said open end and near the free edgeon either side of said head covering portion; and draw strings in saidopenings providing means for closing said sleeping bag about anoccupant.

3. A paper sleeping bag, comprising: an outer envelope formed ofcrinkled paper having a bottom portion, a top portion, side portions oneither side joining the top and bottom portions, a closed end, an openend, and a head covering portion extending from the bottom portion atthe open end; an inner envelope formed of crinkled paper positionedwithin said outer envelope having a shape similar to said outerenvelope, said envelopes being joined together at the free edges of saidopen end and said head covering portion; a filler positioned betweensaid inner and outer envelopes, said filler being composed of manylayers of thin crinkled paper; and a backing sheet positioned betweensaid inner and outer envelopes, said filler being secured to saidbacking sheet at spaced intervals.

4. A paper sleeping bag, comprising: an outer envelope formed ofdurable, Waterproof, crinkled paper having a bottom portion, a topportion, a closed end, and an open end, a head covering portionextending from said bottom portion at said open end, and side portionson either side joining said top and bottom portions, each side portionhaving a longitudinal fold centered between said top and bottomportions, whereby when the sleeping bag is folded said side portionswill collapse between said top and bottom portions; an inner envelopeformed of durable crinkled paper positioned within said outer envelopehaving a shape similar to said outer envelope, said envelopes beingjoined together at the free edges of said open end and said headcovering portion and said envelopes being joined together at the closedend and at one of said side portions; a filler positioned between saidinner and outer envelopes, said filler having many layers of thin paper;and positioning means fastened to said filler at many spaced intervalsand securing said filler from movement relative to said envelopes.

5. A paper sleeping bag, comprising: an outer envelope formed ofdurable, crinkled paper having a bag shape with a top portion, a bottomportion, a closed end and an open end and having a head covering portionextending from said bottom portion at said open end; an inner envelopeformed of crinkled paper positioned within said outer envelope having ashape similar to said outer envelope, said envelopes being joinedtogether at the free edges of said open end and said head coveringportion; a filler positioned between said inner and outer envelopes,said filler having many layers of thin paper; positioning means fastenedto said filler at many spaced intervals and securing said filler frommovement relative to said envelopes; said envelopes having a series ofopenings extending therethrough near the free edge of said open end andnear the free edge on either side of said head covering portion; anddrawstrings in said openings providing means for closing said sleepingbag about an occupant.

6. A paper sleeping bag, comprising: an outer envelope formed of durablecrinkled paper having a, bottom portion, a top portion, side portions oneither side joining said top and bottom portions, a closed end, an openend, and a head covering portion extending from said bottom portion atsaid open end; an inner envelope formed of crinkled paper positionedWithin said outer envelope having a shape similar to said outerenvelope, said envelopes being joined together at the free edges of saidopen end and said head covering portion; a filler positioned betweensaid inner and outer envelopes, said filler having many layers of thinpaper; and positioning means fastened to said filler at many spacedintervals and securing said filler from movement relative to saidenvelopes.

JAMES W. NICHOLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

